Saudi Arabia Welcomes Qatari Hajj Performers, Condemns Politicizing Islamic Rites

Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Saudi minister of culture and information during the anti-terror quartet (ATQ) meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, SPA
Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Saudi minister of culture and information during the anti-terror quartet (ATQ) meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, SPA
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Qatari Hajj Performers, Condemns Politicizing Islamic Rites

Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Saudi minister of culture and information during the anti-terror quartet (ATQ) meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, SPA
Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Saudi minister of culture and information during the anti-terror quartet (ATQ) meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, SPA

Jeddah- Saudi Arabia’s culture and information minister Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad welcomed all Qataris looking forward to joining this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Doha’s attempts to politicize the religious rite is a step down the wrong road, said Awwad.

Speaking at the ATQ (Anti-terror Quartet) meeting in Jeddah, Awwad stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s Holiest site, takes great concern in facilitating Hajj.

The Kingdom exerts its utmost efforts to make the Hajj a success, he said.

Citing Saudi Arabia’s hosting pilgrims time and time again, Awwad said that the kingdom has proved throughout history its success in providing its services to the pilgrims.

The meeting, whose objective is to boost joint action to discuss media issues of concern to the countries calling for combating terror and coordinating stances against the tendentious Qatari media campaigns supporting violence and extremism and spreading hate speech, comes as an extension of the previous meeting in Cairo.

Awwad considered Qatar making the choice of politicizing Hajj to be equivalent to political bankruptcy by which Doha intends to create confusion and exploit the religious ritual for its own ends.

He added that throughout modern history Qatar is the second country to politicize Hajj. Before it, Iran tried and its efforts totally failed.

Awwad stressed that the Qatari people are welcome this year (for Hajj) like every year. Several options have been presented to Qatari pilgrims to perform Hajj rites with ease and comfort.

He further said the Qataris wishing to perform Hajj should not believe the false propaganda stating that they are forbidden from performing Hajj.

The Kingdom welcomes all Muslims from all over the world and spares no effort in facilitating Hajj so that the pilgrimage is comfortable and offers a peace of mind.



Indonesia’s Mount Ibu Erupts, Spews Hot Lava and Smoke

This handout picture taken and released on January 11, 2025 by Indonesian Geological Agency shows Mount Ibu spewing volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku on January 11, 2025. (Handout / Indonesian Geological Agency / AFP)
This handout picture taken and released on January 11, 2025 by Indonesian Geological Agency shows Mount Ibu spewing volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku on January 11, 2025. (Handout / Indonesian Geological Agency / AFP)
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Indonesia’s Mount Ibu Erupts, Spews Hot Lava and Smoke

This handout picture taken and released on January 11, 2025 by Indonesian Geological Agency shows Mount Ibu spewing volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku on January 11, 2025. (Handout / Indonesian Geological Agency / AFP)
This handout picture taken and released on January 11, 2025 by Indonesian Geological Agency shows Mount Ibu spewing volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku on January 11, 2025. (Handout / Indonesian Geological Agency / AFP)

A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers (3.1 miles) into the air, an official said.

Mount Ibu, on Halmahera island in North Maluku province, erupted at 7:45 pm central Indonesia time (1145 GMT), sending a tall flaming column soaring into the sky.

"The lava was spotted two kilometers away from the eruption center," Geological Agency head Muhammad Wafid said in a statement.

Images from the volcano monitoring post showed a bright red column of flame and thick, dark smoke billowing high above the volcano crater.

The volcano is currently still on the second highest alert level.

There has been no new evacuation order, but visitors and villagers have been told to vacate a zone four to 5.5 kilometers from the peak.

The agency also urged people to wear face masks and protective goggles in case of volcanic ash rain.

Ibu is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupting more than 2,000 times last year.

More than 700,000 people lived on Halmahera island as of 2022, according to official figures.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Last year, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing thousands of residents of nearby islands to evacuate.